My Granny's 5-Ingredient Party Pie Is My Favorite Retro Dessert

Make any gathering into a party with this rich, chocolatey treat.

By
Jeanette Hurt
Jeanette Hurt
Jeanette Hurt
Jeanette Hurt is a cookbook author, recipe developer and speaker with over 15 years of experience. She has authored 15 (soon to be 16) cookbooks on food and drinking and is featured in Wine Enthusiast, theKitchn, Insider, EatingWell, Cheese/Alcohol/Chocolate Professor, Caregiving, Simply Recipes, and more.
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Published October 27, 2025
Jeanette Hurt
Granny’s Party Pie slices on dessert plates with forks and beverage glasses

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Every so often, I seek cooking or baking inspiration in my Granny’s recipe boxes. When my Granny Hurt died, I inherited three of them. The boxes not only contained the instructions for cherished family dishes, but they were also a diary of sorts, including my grandmother’s entertaining tips, her friends’ favorite cocktails, instructions for using the microwave, and even tips on how to think positively. 

If I’m feeling wistful, I thumb through her recipes and musings, but I also search through them for dining inspiration, especially for desserts. My 15-year-old son enjoys cooking, so he also likes looking through her recipe cards, and together, we recently discovered Granny’s Party Pie.

The title intrigued us—who wouldn’t want a party in a pie? But really, it was the simplicity of ingredients that had us sold. It had just five of them—chocolate, marshmallows, cream, milk, and a graham cracker crust—so it was an easy decision to try it out, because we already had all of the ingredients on hand. 

Granny’s recipe included milk chocolate with almonds, but we decided to substitute it with the plain milk chocolate already in our pantry, and it turned out just fine. In fact, the second time we made it, this time with the chocolate with almonds, we found that the nuts just sank to the bottom of the pie crust. It still tasted good, so you can choose to use either, but our preference was for the plain (sorry, Granny!). 

No matter which kind of chocolate you use, it’s a pretty decadent pie. Rich, thick, and chocolatey, this s’mores-inspired dessert is sure to make any gathering into a party.

overhead view of Granny’s Party Pie with forks and dessert plates on the side

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Tips for Making Granny’s Party Pie

  • Don’t skip the cooling time: One of the times we made this pie, we skipped cooling the melted chocolate mixture before combining it with the whipped cream. The pie turned out soupy and a bit flat, so it turns out Granny really does know best. If you follow the instructions, the filling will mound nicely in the pie shell.
  • Make it ahead: I think this pie tastes even better the second day than the first, as the longer chilling time allows the flavors to meld, so consider making it ahead for your next party.
  • Make a “party pie in a glass”: You may have a little bit of filling leftover after adding it to the pie crust, so I like to make a “party pie in a glass” or two: just transfer the extra filling to a serving glass and top it with crushed graham crackers for a single-serving treat.

Easy Tweaks

  • Change up the chocolate: This recipe is very forgiving, so you can use whatever chocolate you like best. I loved it the most when I made it with dark chocolate, and my son wants to try it with white chocolate the next time we make it.
  • Add vanilla: The only tweak we made to Granny’s recipe is that we added vanilla extract, which enhances the chocolate flavors. It’s optional, but I highly recommend it.
  • Add a splash of alcohol: If I weren’t making this with my son, I might have also added a bit of rum or whiskey to the mix, which both taste great with chocolate.
overhead view of Granny’s Party Pie slice with a fork

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

More Favorites from Grandma’s Recipe Box

Granny’s Party Pie

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Chill: 4 hrs
Total Time 4 hrs 15 mins
Servings 6 to 8 servings
Yield 1 (9 or 10-inch) pie

If you use a 9-inch crust, you may have a little filling left over after assembling the pie.

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Ingredients

  • 6 ounces milk chocolate bars with or without almonds, broken into pieces

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows, preferably mini, plus more for decorating

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided, optional

  • 1 cup heavy cream, plus more for decorating

  • 1 (9 or 10-inch) graham cracker crust (store-bought or homemade)

Method

  1. Melt the chocolate:

    Add water to a double boiler or saucepan to cover the bottom by 1/2 to 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low so the water is simmering.

    Place the chocolate pieces and milk into the double boiler insert or another metal bowl. If using a separate bowl, place it on top of the saucepan. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Once the chocolate starts to melt, stir it. Cook, stirring often, until all the chocolate pieces have broken down and melted, about 4 minutes.

  2. Add the marshmallows:

    Once the chocolate has melted, add the marshmallows, a handful at a time, stirring after each addition until they are all melted.

    A glass bowl containing a chocolate mixture with marshmallows being stirred with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  3. Cool the chocolate:

    Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat, pour it into a large bowl, and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla (if using). Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and let the mixture chill until it becomes slightly thicker, 30 to 60 minutes.

  4. Make the whipped cream:

    In a second large bowl, use a whisk or hand mixer to beat the heavy cream until it forms soft peaks with slightly curled tips. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (if using).

  5. Fill and chill the pie:

    Use a rubber spatula to fold the whipped cream into the chilled chocolate mixture, then spoon into the graham cracker crust. Chill the pie in the refrigerator until firm, 3 to 4 hours, and up to overnight, if you’re making it ahead of time for a party.

    A person mixing creamy ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Pouring a creamy filling into a pie crust

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    A pie in a round dish with a smooth filling and a crumb crust

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  6. Serve:

    When ready to serve, top with additional whipped cream or marshmallows, as desired. 

    The finished pie should last in the refrigerator for three to five days, but in most cases, it will only last a day because you or your family will devour it.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    overhead view of Granny’s Party Pie with slices cut out and 2 dessert plates with slices of the pie

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
450 Calories
23g Fat
58g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 450
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 12g 61%
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 168mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 37g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 86mg 7%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 156mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.